BCRSP Pages Oct Newsletter 2018 - localunits.org Pages Oct Newslette… · PRESERVING THE PAST/SECURING THE FUTURE October Birthdays! Claire Lillie 7 Elaine Mies 8 Laverne Young 10

President’s Message Our first meeting, September 26th, went off without a glitch! It was well- attended in spite of another huge event scheduled on the same day and same time. We had a great time together as we rekindled friendships, made new friends and enjoyed a delicious meal together. If you haven’t renewed your membership - you still have time.

BCRSP Monthly Newsletter Page 1

PRESERVING THE PAST/SECURING THE FUTURE OCTOBER 17, 2018

BCRSP Newsletter October, 2018 Volume 2

BCRSP Executive Committee Hard At Work

One of our charitable projects occurs in November: Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF). We are asking that you bring your donations to our October 17th meeting. TRTF is a worthy cause.

Thank you.

Mildred

October Guest Speakers - Sheila Fields

Our guest speakers for the October 17th meeting are Danny Stribling, our local TRTF Chair and Jamie Larson, our District 6 TRTF Representative. We will also welcome several of the local teachers who received classroom grants from TRTF. They will share the exciting projects that the funds from TRTF will enable them to implement in their classrooms this school year.


PRESERVING THE PAST/SECURING THE FUTURE

October Birthdays!

Claire Lillie 7

Elaine Mies 8

Laverne Young 10

Edwina Brewer 10

Meredith Wilson 11

James Warner 18

Eleanor Mueller 19

Carolyn Taylor 20

Pat Curtis 24

Beverly Walker 25

Eileen McDonald 27

Cindy Still 27

Mildred Parrack 31

Johnie Walker, Jason Shirley, Zach Sanches - speakers at the Sept. 2108 meeting


IN THE SPOTLIGHT Billie Maderer Heiser was born on July 29th in Laredo, TX. She retired from Pleasanton ISD as an elementary school principal. She also worked in Bishop ISD as a first grade teacher, in Premont ISD with 4 year old non-English speaking children and taught 4th grade. In Houston ISD she taught 4th grade and in Pleasanton taught grades 1and 3 and worked as an assistant principal.

She attended Texas A&I College where she got a B.S. in elementary education. She received her M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction from Texas A&I University and her mid-management certification from Texas A&M Kingsville.

She is a Diamond Plus member of TRTA! and was active in the Atascosa McMullen Retired School Personnel unit before moving to Bryan last October.

Billie is a mother of 2; grandmother of 3 AND great grandmother of 3 (her reason for moving to Bryan!)

She enjoys our BCRSP programs and the information we share about the current legislative happenings. She is looking forward to getting to know all of us as well as she knew the members of AMRSP.

Brazos Country Retired School Personnel

October 17, 2018Hilton Hotel - Oakwood Ballroom

11:00AM

THEME: “Preserving the Past-Securing the Future”

~~~ Agenda~~~

WelcomePledges- Shirley BurkhalterIntroductions Invocation - Meredith Wilson

----Buffet begins at 11:30----

Program: Texas Retired Teacher Foundation Recipients,Danny Stribling, BCRSP Foundation Chair and

Jamie Lawson, District 6 Foundation Representative

ReportsAnnouncementsBirthdays/In the Spotlight - Susan JunekDoorPrizesChuckle of the Day - Linda CoatsAdjournment

NOVEMBER MEETINGWednesday, Nov. 28, 2018

“Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. Brigadier General, USA (Retired)” Commandant of the TAMU Corps of Cadets


MEMBERSHIP UPDATE - France Maloney

I send my most sincere "Thank you" for your membership renewals for the 2018-2019 TRTA and BCRSP year. I appreciated most especially the many inquiries concerning your membership status. However, there are

quite a few members who have not renewed their dues. You can help by calling on your fellow retired friends and ask them if they have sent in their dues. TRTA and BCRSP need members. For as the saying goes "There is strength in numbers!" We need numbers to be an effective voice and presence when dealing with our state legislators concerning TRS pension, TRS Care, future TRS retirees, and other issues.

Our current total membership is 249.

Treasurer’s Report - Vera Wallem

The September treasurer’s report is now available on our website under the Members page link. http://localunits.org/BCRSP/


INFORMATION AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES - LINDA WARNER Safer Car - https://www.safercar.gov/

Write down your car’s VIN number, go to the above website, enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) and sign up for “Recall Alerts”. You will find the VIN (17 characters) on the lower left of your car’s windshield, on your car’s registration, on your insurance card, and inside the driver’s side of the car. Use this site to report a safety problem with your vehicle. They will remove your personal information

from the problem report and register the issue on the NHTSA. When a number of the same issues are reported NHTSA investigates and then requires that manufacturers notify owners of safety issues. Manufacturers notify the first owners of the vehicle; if you are a second owner you must register your VIN for your own safety!

http://localunits.org/BCRSP/

https://www.safercar.gov/

https://www.safercar.gov/

Legislative Update - Dr. James Warner

TRTA’s goal is to remind Texas public school employees that all 1.5 million active and retired educators are united as contributors and beneficiaries of our retirement system. The Texas Legislature controls funding and benefit levels for our schools and retirement system. We must all use our united voice to secure the future for students and educators.

TRTA Issues and Goals

Increase the educator voice by increasing TRTA membership and encouraging all educators to vote. Rationale: Our power is in our numbers. Educators must all become registered voters and must be encouraged to vote for candidates, who support our issues and goals. Relevant facts: 1. There are 1.5 million educators who belong to the TRS system - a voting bloc with the potential to win

any election in Texas - by paying attention and communicating our message without letting political forces destroy our unity.

2. Coalitions like Texas Educators Vote, Texas Parent PAC and Texans for Public Education are working to inform and increase the educator vote. Spread the word!

Protect Defined Benefits and funding for the TRS pension plan. Rationale: There must be a plan for increasing permanent state funding to ensure defined benefits, retirement security, and a strong pension fund. Relevant Facts: 1. The average retiree receives $2,035 per month from TRS with no Social Security income. 2. The Texas Legislature governs all TRS benefits, structure, funding, and cost-of-living increases. 3. The 85th Legislative Session witnessed attempts to eliminate the defined benefit pension formula and

replace it with a defined contribution (401K) structure. This change would adversely affect retirement security for current and future retirees, as well as recruitment and retention of the education workforce.

4. Payroll contributions from the state to the pension system will need to increase by at least $1.6 billion in the 86th Legislative Session to meet the statutory definition of actuarially sound. Currently, it would take 86 years to pay off the system’s liabilities. We must be below 31 years to meet the state’s definition of actuarially sound.


Affordable and accessible health care for all Texas education retirees. Rationale: There is no long-term funding plan to sustain TRS-Care. Retirees are willing to pay their share, but current premiums are no longer affordable for many of our retirees. The two-year supplemental cycle is not a solution to our health-care funding issue. Relevant Facts: 1. The 85th Legislative Session made drastic changes to the retiree health care program, TRS-Care,

eliminating choices and raising premiums for retirees. More than 37,000 participants left TRS-Care in 2017 and 2018.

2. The state funding mechanism for TRS-Care is not indexed to health care costs and is inadequate to provide retirement security for retirees living on fixed incomes with no cost-of-living increases tied to inflation.

3. The TRS-Care program needs $200 to $400 million in additional state appropriations in 2020-2021 to stay solvent.

4. The TRSActive-Care program for active employees is unaffordable for many educators and state funding has never increased for the plan since its inception in 2002.

Promote an annuity increase for all retirees. Rationale: The cost of living continues to go up, but annuities remain relatively stagnant. Relevant Facts: 1. Annuities are based on a fixed formula, and cost-of-living increases are granted on an ad-hoc basis by the

Legislature when the system is defined as actuarially sound by statute and extra funding is appropriated. 2. Due to changes in actuarial assumptions that measure the health of the TRS System, biennial payroll

contribution funding increases totaling at least $1.6 billion are needed to define the system as actuarially sound. Additional funding is required above that to grant an annuity increase.

3. In 2007, the Legislature granted a one-time supplemental annuity check (or 13th check) to retirees, capped at $2400. A similar 13th check during the 86th Legislative Session would cost more than $800 million, depending upon the cap or other boundaries applied to the increase.

4. The last percentage-based cost-of-living pension increase (3%) occurred in 2013, but only applied to those who retired before September 1, 2004. In effect, there has not been a pension increase in 14 years. Health care and other costs have increased exponentially during that time.

Support reform at the national level for Social Security offsets, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Rationale: Retired Texas teachers are penalized in that the formula for calculating payments for those who qualify for Social Security is arbitrary and treats retired teachers differently than the rest of the population. Relevant Facts: 1. Ninety-five percent of Texas education retirees did not pay into Social Security during their careers, and

those who do receive a Social Security benefit because of jobs outside of education are often harmed by these federal provisions.

2. The WEP reduces earned Social Security benefits for educators who paid into the system through work inside or outside of the school district, and the GPO reduces or eliminates spousal or survivor benefits for retirees with a TRS pension.


BCRSP Minutes - Sept. 26, 2018 - Mary Ann Gaylord

BrazosCountyRe/redSchoolPersonnelLuncheonandGeneralMee/ng

September26,2018

PresidentMildredDavispresidedovertheini2almee2ngoftheBCRSP2018-2019year,at11:35.MembersgatheredintheOakwoodBallroomattheHiltonHoteltocelebrate65yearsof“PreservingthePast;SecuringtheFuture”withTexasRe2redTeachersAssocia2on.Thanksforcomingearlytogetaparkingplaceastherewasanotherlargeorganiza2onmee2ngheretoday.

MildredDavisrecognizedandintroducedourHiltonwaitstaffandexpressedhowgratefulwearetohavetheirwonderfulservicetoday.Thefollowingpresen2ngguestswereintroduced:ZachSanches,theRegionalVicePresidentofAssocia2onMemberBenefitsAdvisors,AMBA,andhisassociateteamleaderDistrictManager,JasonShirley.Twospecialguestswerealsointroduced:CouncilmanPren2ssMadison,represen2ngBryanMayorAndrewNelson,andMs.JohnieWalker,PresidentofDistrictVIinHuntsville.

ShirleyBurkhalterledourgroupinthepledgestotheAmericanandTexasflags.

ThefloorwasgiventoCouncilmanPren2ssMadison,fromtheofficeofBryan’sMayorAndrewNelson.Ac2ngonthebehalfoftheBryanCityCouncil,Mr.Madisonrecognizedourpastpresident,CarolynTaylor,witha“CityofBryanProclama2onthatthisSeptember26,2018,is“CarolynTaylorDay”forheraccomplishmentsandcontribu2onstoourcommunityandtoextendourmosthearaeltapprecia2onforherhardworkanddedica2on”.Theaudiencerespondedwithcheers,astandingova2on,andaspontaneoussongforCarolyn,“Forshe’sajollygoodfellow!....Whichnobodycandeny!”Theaddi2onalsmileforCarolynwasthatCouncilmanPren2ssMadisonwasoneofherformerstudentsinBryanISD..Shewasgiventhecer2ficateofProclama2onfromtheMayorofBryan,andavaseofflowersfromBCRSP.Congratula2onsCarolynforthismemorablemoment.

MeredithWilsonofferedtheinvoca2onforourmealandMildredDavislistedthedeliciousmenuwewouldserveourselvesfromthebuffet.


OurprogramspeakerwasMr.ZachSanches,RegionalVicePresidentAssocia2onMemberBenefitsAdvisors(AMBA).Thisprogramistofamiliarizeourmemberswiththebenefits,travel,anddiscountsforassocia2onmembers.The#1priorityofAMBAistohelpourBCRSPandTRTAhaveastrongermembership,voice,legisla2ve,andadvocacypurposeinourlocalandourstateorganiza2ons.Theybrought4,000dues-payingmembersintothe2017statewideTRTAmembership,andthisyeartheyprojecttobringin7,000dues-payingmembersstatewidetoTRTA,throughtheirAMBAaffilia2onwithmembersandprospec2vemembers.Theycarrywiththem,ourlocalBCRSPmembershipforms,toleavewithfolkswhoinquireoftheirAMBAbenefits.

WithaPowerPointpresenta2on,Mr.Sancheswalkedusthroughthemanyop2onsofAMBAbenefitsandsupplementsallendorsedbyTRTA:LongTermCare/HomeHealthCarePolicy,MedicareSupplementPolicy,DentalInsurance,VisionPlan,EasyIssueLifePolicy,TaxDeferredAnnuity,Cancer/HeartAmack/StrokePolicy,andAirandGroundAmbulancePlan,andevenNa2onwideVeterinaryPetInsurance.Eachpersonwasinvitedtorequestafreecourtesycheckupofourcurrentpoliciesandbenefitspackagesandreviewthecoverageyouhave,eveniftheyarenotwithAMBA.Therewasapersonaltes2monygiventhatAMBAwillhonestlyevaluatewhatpoliciesyouhaveandoffertheirexper2sesoyoumaymakeeducateddecisionsifyoualreadyhavethebestbenefits,orhaveenough,orneedsomethingmorefiongspecificallytoyou.ZachandJasonwouldawaya$25.00Kohl’sgircardandseveralLomo2cketsforseekinginforma2onaboutAMBAandforpar2cipa2oninansweringques2ons:70%oftheU.S.popula2onwillneedlongtermcare,andonly10%ofthepopula2onhasaplanforassistedliving,homehealth,andnursinghome,inlongtermcarecoverage.ContactAssocia2onMemberBenefitsAdvisorsifyouneedinforma2on,orcheckinforma2ononwww.myambabenefits.com.Thereyouwillalsoseefunbenefitsofdiscountsfortravel,shopping,diningandtheTRTAmember#“Passport”foraddi2onaldiscounts.

TheBCRSPBusinessmee/ngbeganfollowingtheBAMAPresenta2on.PresidentMildredDavisthankedeveryoneforjoiningusforthisfirstmee2ng,andforarrivingearly.The2018-2019OfficersandCommimeeChairswereintroducedandthosepresentwereaskedtopleasestandtoberecognized.Wethankedthesemembersformakingallthispossible.

TheMinutesfromtheMay23,2018mee2ngarefoundonlineintheBCRSPMonthlyNewslemer.


Carolyn Taylor, Becky Hall, Danny Stribling

Membershipwasreportedtodayhavingeightnewmembers,fourpayingduestodayforatotalmembershipof239members,177ofwhicharebothstateandlocalorganiza2onmembers.

Onyourtablepleasefindgoldenrodcoloredpaperswith“TRTACommunityVolunteerServiceCommimeeIndividualHours”.Hourstobereportedareforthe2meperiodJanuary1,2018-December31,2018;amaximumof12hoursperday.ThesewillbesubmimedbyFebruary1forourLocalBCRSPUnit.PleasetaketheseformshomewithyoutofilloutandreturntoPatsyBolch.Pleasebesuretoputyournameonyourpaper!

DannyStriblingremindedustobringourcheckbookorcashfordona2onstotheTRTF.

YoumayfindtheLegisla2veReportfromJamesWarneronline.

Rememberwearealwayscollec2ngchildren’sbookdona2onsateachmee2ng.

ScholarshipsChair,LindaCoats,hasnoreport.ScholarshipRecipientsfor2017-2018canbeseenonlineandinthe2018-2019Yearbook.

VeraWallem,statedthattheTreasurer’sReportcanbeseenonlineinheBCRSPMonthlyNewslemer,andreportstoday’sbalanceinthecheckbookis$11,199.04,inaCDthebalanceis$1,107.34,and$4,893.66inScholarship.Pleaserememberthereisascholarshipdona2onjaratthesign-intableateachmee2ng.

Veradirectsouramen2ontothecurrent2018-2019Yearbookonthetablebeforeus,onpage9,thisistheBudgetforBCRSP:2018-2019Informa2on.Thisisthesamebudgetfromlastyear,withonlytwochanges.SeeSec2on1,PartB.,Item6USPS:was$70.00lastyear,increasedto$80.00thisyearforUSPSPostOfficeBoxfeewithabitofacushionforprotec2onifthisfeeisincreased.SecondchangewasmadetoSec2on2,PartB.,Item6.TRTFdona2ons:from$400.00lastyearto$500.00thisyear.ThisisaProposedBudgetfor2018-2019,forourapproval.Therewerenoques2ons;nodiscussion.Themo2ontoacceptthisproposedbudgetwasmadebyMaryAnnArmstrong.ItwassecondedbyDannyStriblingandthemo2onwascarriedandapprovedbymajority.

MildredDavisdirectedouramen2ontothesmallerandlargercansbesideherpodium.Thisyearourthemeis,“PreservingthePast-SecuringtheFuture”focuswillbereflectedinthecollec2oncanforBrazosCountyRe2redSchoolPersonnel“TruckloadSponsor2018”FeastofCaringcollec2ongoaltobe$2,000.Wehavedonated$100inyears2015and2016inthesmallcans,butin2017wegaveatruckloadof$1,170.enjoyingourriceandbeansfeastwiththeBrazosValleyFoodBankevent.Thisyearwearestrivingtoexceedthatamountagainbeinga“TruckloadSponsor”.


ScholarshipwinnersareintheonlineBCRSPMonthlyNewslemer.

Yearbooksareavailableforpickuphereatthedoorifyouhavenotreceivedyoursyet.

Thenewnametagsarenots2ckonanymore,andwecanthankDianaDeFrancescoforthesecliponnametags.Youwillpickthemupattheentrancetableuponyourarrival,andarerthemee2ngpleaseremovethemandplacethemintothealphabe2callylabeledbaggiesatthetablenearesttheBallroomexit.

SusanJunekrecognizedSeptemberBirthdayswithgirgoodiebagsdistributedtothesememberscelebra2nganotheryear.ThenMs.BillieHeiserwasrecognizedasour“IntheSpotlight”membertoday;introducingherandhonoringheraccolades.

LaVerneYoungHawkinshadvariouspeopledrawa2cketandmemberslookedtoseeiftheywerethewinningnumberforthesixdistributeddoorprizes.TheAMBArepresenta2ves,ZachSanches,andJasonShirley,alsopulledone2cketfor$5.00worthof“ScratchOff”cards,anddrewanother2cketforasecondluckywinnerawardinga$25.00Kohl’sgircard.

ChucklefortheDayfromLindaCoats,remindedusthatwewanttodoallwecantoretainthegoodteachersoutthere!Buyschoolsupplies,StufftheBus.Hertruestorygivessupportforthisyear’stheme:“PreservingthePast--SecuringtheFuture”.Lindasharedafirstyearteacher’s,firstdayofrecess,withherkindergartenerstudent’sencounterwithadeadcatontheplayground….Weallchuckled.Whatisthepasttenseofto“psst”inacat’sear?

MildredDavisremindedusthatWednesday,October17isournextlocalmee2ngandithasbeensuggestedthatweeachwearaHalloweenMaskifyouwantto.SignuptoamendtheOctober10DistrictIVFallConferenceinHuntsville,andrememberyourdona2onstoTRTF.

Themee2ngadjournedat1:15.

Respecaullysubmimed,ElizabethWhitleyforMaryAnnGaylord,Secretary


Healthy Living Information - Suzanne Phelps

LearnNottoFall

AdaptedfromReader’sDigest,October2018

Falls are one of life’s great overlooked perils. We fear terror attacks, shark bites, Ebola outbreaks, and other remote dangers, yet each year an estimated 646,000 people die worldwide after falling. Falls are the second-leading cause of death by injury, after car accidents. In the United States, fall caused more than 33,000 fatalities in 2015.

Falls are even more significant as a cause of injury. More patients go to emergency rooms in the United States after falling than for any other form of injury, including car accidents. Falls can happen anywhere at any time to anyone. Spectacular falls from great heights outdoors are actually extremely rare. The most dangerous spots for falls are not roof-tops or cliffs but the low-level interior settings of everyday life: shower stalls, supermarket aisles, and stairways.

Any fall, even a tumble out of bed, can change life profoundly, taking someone from robust health to grave disability in less than one second. It’s no wonder that scientists are now encouraging people of all ages to learn how to fall to minimize injury.

Given the tremendous cost of falls to individuals and society and the increasing knowledge of how and why falls occur, it pays to learn how to prevent them. Some of the following tips are just common sense – and too easily brushed aside until the oversight has caused an accident. They’re all worth thinking about, no matter how steady you may feel on your feet.

PREPARE YOUR ENVIRONMENT Secure loose rugs or get rid of them. Make sure the tops and bottoms of staircases are lit. Clean up spills immediately. Treat slick surfaces such as smooth marble floors with anti-slip coatings.

BE CAREFUL, EVEN IN THE MOST ORDINARY PLACES Watch where you are going. Don’t walk while reading or using your phone. Always hold handrails – most people using stairways do not. Don’t have your hands in your pockets, as this reduces your ability to regain your balance when you stumble. Remember that your balance can also be thrown off by a heavy purse or backpack.


Technology Tips

Undo everywhere to fix those little mistakes!

Did you know you can undo almost any action? Ctrl + Z is the ultimate hot key, and for sure you knew about it already, however note that undo doesn't just apply to typing. If you accidentally delete or move a file, you can hit Ctrl + Z to bring it right back to where it was (Ctrl + Y will redo whatever you undid).

IMPROVE YOUR GEAR Wear good shoes with treads. Use a cane or a walker if required. Hike with a walking stick. Get a hearing aid if you need one. Individuals with hearing loss had more difficulty with balance and gait and showed significant improvement when they had a hearing aid.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY Drugs, alcohol and even sleep deprivation can affect balance and coordination, making them a fact in falls. If you feel light-headed or faint, sit down immediately. Don’t worry that someone might think you are weak or that you are being rude; you can get back up once you’ve established you are not going to lose consciousness. Eat a balanced diet to support bone density and muscle strength, especially if you are older, so that you are less likely to be injured if you do fall. A study of more than 12,000 elderly French people found connections between poor nutrition, falling, and fractures. Strength training helps too. Lower body strength is important for recovering from slips; upper body strength, for surviving

falls.

IF YOU FALL, ROLL Scientists studying falls are developing “safe landing responses” to help limit damage. If you are falling, first protect your head. Fight trainers and parachute jump coaches encourage people not to fall straight forward or

backward. The key is to roll and try to let the fleshy side parts of your body absorb the impact. Don’t reach for the floor with your hands. Distribute the weight on the calf, thigh, into the glutes, rolling on the outside or your leg as opposed to falling straight back.


THANK YOU BCRSP Members!

From Carolyn Taylor: Thank you all so much for honoring me at the September meeting! I was totally surprised and humbled by your show of support and appreciaton. The proclamation from the Mayor of Bryan, the beautiful flowers and the standing ovation were all so special! I couldn’t have done it without the help of everyone involved, especially the awesome Executive Committee. Thanks again from the bottom of my BCRSP heart! Carolyn Taylor, Immediate Past President

From Gemma Vazquez - 2018 Scholarship Recipient Dear Brazos County Retired School Personnel, Thank you for giving me this scholarship. This scholarship will help me further my education in the education field. I plan to become a teacher. Thank you for your support. Gemma Vazquez

Linda Combs - Local Scholarships Chair

At our October meeting we will host a meet and greet from several local candidates. They will attend our luncheon/meeting and then we'll introduce each one for a one minute speech. Afterwards, they will remain for discussion, question & answers, etc. from members.

Those who (at newsletter press time) positively will attend are: James Edge, a representative from Bill Flores' office, Rick Kennedy, Maryanne Arnold, Kyle Kacel, Terra Willett and Meg Walsh. Julie Porter and an intern Rachel McBride will attend for John Raney, Charles Schwertner and Josh Wilkerson will be unable to attend. Should be a good time.

Danny Stribling - TRTF Chair

October is Foundation month! Once again, we turn our focus to the Texas Retired Teacher Foundation in the month of October. Because of the wonderful donations of our members, the Foundation provides funding for four worthwhile projects. "A Helping Hand" provides retirees with charitable assistance for critical needs and short-term hardships. Classroom Assistance Grants provides public school teachers with funding to enhance the education of children. The Student Scholarship Program provides much needed funds to future educators. Finally, The Legacy Campaign promotes a positive image of the teaching profession.

At our October meeting teachers from both the Bryan ISD and College Station ISD who have received Classroom Assistance Grants will give us a brief overview of their projects. Please come prepared to contribute to our Foundation. Both future and retired educators are counting on us!


Documents

BCRSP Pages Oct Newsletter 2018 - localunits.org Pages Oct Newslette… · PRESERVING THE PAST/SECURING THE FUTURE October Birthdays! Claire Lillie 7 Elaine Mies 8 Laverne Young 10